Printing



Sept. 18, 1945. J LOWE 2,384,843

PRINTING Filed May 15, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E D F 1 1 N vz/v TOI? JAMESMoo/e5 Lo WE ITTORNEY J. M. LOWE PRINTING Sept. 18, 1945.

Filed May 15, 1943 3 Sheets$heet 2 N VEN T01? Jew/5s- M0 025 LowzflrraRA/EY J. M. LOWE Sept. 18, 1945.

PRINTING Filed May 15, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 VENTOR JAMES MOORE Lows NONPatented Sept. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING James MooreLowe, Valleyfleld, Quebec, Canada Application May 15, 1943, Serial No.487,167 In Canada March 25, 1943 Introduction This invention relates toa textile offset lithographing or printing method and apparatus.

The great difliculty in printing continuous webs of material fromlithographic plates is that these plates are not continuous on theroller. They are thin metal strips, each end of which is attached to a,groove in the roller, thus leaving a gap on the circumference of theroller. Thus, if the roller were to be continuously run in contact withthe work, a space would occur between each repeat of the pattern. Inprinting textiles, naturally, it is desirable to obtain long rolls offabric with the pattern repeating continuously.

The present invention has for a main object the provision of meanswhereby a continuous series of repeats can be applied lithographicallyto a textile fabric, paper or other sheet material. A further object ofthe invention is to provide a method of this nature in which the fabricmay be printed in a, number of different colours. Still further objectsare to provide a relatively simple and economical method, an apparatuswhich is simple to construct and to operate, and a method and apparatus,which employs to a large extent existing lithographic printingmechanism.

These objects may be performed in a series of operations in which therepeat is printed with the fabric stationary, the fabric being movedforward for each repeat. Generally, the arrangement is such thatprinting rolls and a feeding device for the fabric are synchronized. Aseries of offset printing rolls, each for printing a different colour,are successively brought into contact with respective inking plates andthen with the fabric. Means is provided for maintaining the synchrony ofthe rolls and for moving them in synchrony. Means is also provided forlifting the rolls clear of inking plates which it is not desired thatthey should touch and for the return run.

More specifically, according to a preferred embodiment of the inventionthe apparatus includes a flat bed and frame adapted to carry the entiremechanism, impression plates, a pair of parallel offset printingrollers, spaced apart and adapted to traverse the bed over which thefabric is adapted to pass into position for printing. In conjunctionwith the rollers, mounted on the bed frame, is a feeding and take-upmechanism for the fabric whereby the latter may be fed into position forthe printing of successive repeats. The frame also includes a rack-railrunning along each side, and adjacent to the rack-rail a shifting railwhich can be raised or lowered for 9 Claims. (Cl. 101-135) purposes tobe described. Adapted to run along the bed frame isa carriage connectedto the main printing rollers which include peripheral toothed portionsadapted to run along the rack-rail to rotate the rollers in synchrony,and smooth peripheral portions adapted to be engaged by the shiftingrail to lift the rollers to inoperative level on the return run. Thecarriage also carries the usual dampening and inking arrangement. Inconjunction with the fabric feeding device and the lifting rail aremechanisms operable by the movement of the carriage to initiate actionof the fabric feeding mechanism, and also to trip the mechanism to movethe shifting rail. Additional rails are provided on the bed for engagingthe respective rollers on the positive run and for lifting them clear ofthe impression plates with which they are not designed to come intocontact.

In the method carried out according to this arrangement the carriage isadvanced from one end to the other on the positive run, the rollerscoming into contact with their respective impression inking plates andbeing inked thereby and avoiding contact with the other inking plates.The rollers are then successively passed over the work to complete theprinting of one repeat. When this has been accomplished, the

movement of the carriage trips the mechanism for lifting the rollers toclear the fabric and the inking plates on the return run, and also setsin motion the mechanism for advancing the fabric for the printing ofanother repeat.

Detailed description The invention will be more fully understood byreference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a particularpreferred embodiment and in which:

Figure l is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the apparatusin general.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the apparatus ofFigure 1 on a larger scale, certain of the structure having been omittedfor the sake of clarity.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the fabricfeeding mechanism in more detail.

Figure 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a portionof the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of an alternative form of fabric feedingmechanism;

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary side views and end elevations,respectively, of the printing rollers.

General arrangement Bed frame mechanism The bed frame A supports a pairof elongated parallel side beams II running the length of the apparatusand cross beams I5. Each beam II carries a toothed rack I? also runningthe length of the apparatus. Alongside each beam II and mounted on theframe for slight reciprocal vertical movement is a rail 20. On the framebeneath each rail 2|! and in contacting relation thereto are mountedseveral cams 30, each connected to an actuating bar 35. The arrangementis such that when the bar is moved from left to right of Figure 2 thecams are rotated to exert upward pressure to raise the rail 20 and whenthe bar is moved to the right, the upward pressure is released, allowingthe rail to gravitate into a lower position at which its top edge issubstantially level with the top surface of the beam I I. Brackets 38connect the bars 35 at one end of the machine with a lever all pinned tothe beam II as at 4|. Movement of the lever to about the pin M will thusmove the bar 35 in one direction or the other for the purposes to bedescribed. At the other end of the machine, the bar 35 is connected by abracket to a lever 35, pinned to the frame as at 35. There is a rail 26and associated lever mechanism at each side of the frame A.

Mounted on each beam I I just inside the rack are upstanding fixed rails50 and 5|, respectively. Each extends a portion of the length of theapparatus for the purpose of lifting particular printing rollers clearof impression plates, as will be explained.

Also mounted on the frame A are the impression plates CI, C2, and C3,usually made of metal, each of these plates adapted to be inked with adifferent colour and each to transmit this colour to one of the offsetrollers. Each plate is adjustable in the bed by thumb screws 60 in amanner which will be familiar to one skilled in this art. Aso mounted onthe frame A is a bearing plate 65 adapted to support the fabric inposition for printing. On each side of the plate 65 having parallel axesand adapted for carrying the fabric into position over the plate 65 in amanner to :be described are rollers 66 and 61.

Carriage mechanism The carriage D includes a frame work havinglongitudinally extending beams and cross beams '73. On extensions ofeach end of the beams III are handles I5 for moving the carriage. Forthese may be substituted a mechanism for moving the carriagemechanically.

Extending from side to side of the carriage D and journalled in suitablebearings are the printing rollers El, E2, and E3, each equipped withconventional ofiset blankets of rubber or other suitable material, heldin place in a conventional manner. The bearings on which the rollers EIand E3 are mounted are arranged for adjustment longitudinally of theframe so as to enable adjustment of the spacing between the offsetrollers and thus to arrange for a register of the different colours.Each roller E is provided at both ends with an annular-toothed portion9|, 92 and 93 respectively, adapted at all times to engage the rack II.Each roller E is also equipped adjacent both ends with grooves adaptingthe rollers to remain at bed level or to be lifted by the rails 50 and5|. The roller E3 includes a groove I03 extending the width of both therails 50 and SI and thus allowing the roller to be unaffected by thelatter, since this roller always remains at bed level, on the positiverun of the carriage, that is, towards the right of the figure. Theroller E2 includes a narrower groove I02 adapted only to clear the rail5| so that in the positive run of the carriage the roller E2 comes intocontact with its printing bed, but is then lifted by the rail 50 so thatit clears the bed C3. The roller EI has no annular groove 50 that thisroller is, on the positive run of the carriage, lifted clear of .bothbeds C2 and C3 by the rails 50 and SI. In brief, the structure of therollers E, and the positioning of the rails 50 and SI adapts these railsto lift the rollers selectively, to clear the impression beds C whichthey are not designed to contact.

The rollers-also include annular running surfaces BI, 82 and 83 adaptedfor contact with the shifting rail 20 when the latter is in its upperpostiion, in which position, on the return run of the carriage, it liftsthe rollers clear of all the beds. The carriage also includes the seriesof inking rollers F (which are shown schematically in Figure 1), as willbe well understood by one skilled in the art. For the sake of claritythe inking arrangement has been omitted from Figure 2. The carriage mayalso, as illustrated, include small auxiliary rollers as well as theoffset rollers to assist in supporting its weight, these rollers runningon the bed frame.

Feeding mechanism Used in conjunction with the feeding rollers in oneform of feeding mechanism are feed and take-up drums H0 and II2respectively, about which the fabric is adapted to travel to and fromthe rollers 66 and 57. These drums are mounted on parallel axes, theirrotation being synchronized by a belt III, passing about respectivepulleys H5, H5. To the axis of the drum H5 is connected a tootheddriving wheel I20 which is fitted with a fine rachet I23 to preventbackslip. The wheel I20 meshes with a worm I36 on a connecting shaftI32. On the other end of the shaft I32 is a worm I 35 held in suitablebearings (not shown). With the worm I35 meshes a gearwheel I31. A beltI36 passes about another portion of the wheel I31 and also about pulleysI38 and I39 having axes in triangular relationship as indicated. Thepulley I38 is mounted on a bearing block Hill which is slidably mounted,for movement longitudinally of the bed A, on a slide M2. A worm screwI43 operated by a handle I 44 acts on the block I40 for moving it toright or left of the figure in the bracket, thus serving to position thepulley I38. The pulley I39 is mounted on vertically adjustable bearingsI50 and is normally urged towards its downward position by a strongcompression spring I52, thus constantly exerting tension on the beltI36. The belt I36 is provided with a serrated surface, which is adaptedto be engaged by a peg I6" mounted on the carriage D. That is to say,the belt carries upstanding spaced apart projections engageable by amember projecting from the carriage. In this way. movement of thecarriage from left to right of the bed causes predetermined clockwisetravel of the belt I38 and thus rotation of the pulley I81 andeventually of the drum II8, thereby pulling the cloth forward to theextent of movement of the belt.

Operation Positive run The operation starts with the carriage D at theextreme left-hand end of the frame A when the fabric is in position forprinting the first repeat. The carriage i moved on the positive run(from left to right of the bed as viewed in the figure). Simultaneouslythe inking rollers associated with the respective offset rollers E,respectively run over the plates C3, C2 and Cl respectively, thus inkingthese plates. Then the offset rollers E run over the plates C,respectively receiving an impression therefrom. Th offset rollers E arerotated as the carriage moves, by the engagement of their respectivetoothed portions SI, 92 and 93 with the rack ll. Then the offset rollerE3 runs over the fabric in place on the support 68, applying itsimpression thereto. At the same time, the rollers E2 and El, andrespective inking mechanisms are lifted clear of the plates C3 and C2'by the rails 58 and El as has been described. Immediately the rollshave passed over these rails, however, they are allowed to descend tobed-level and first the roller E2 and then the roller El contacts thefabric and passes its impression thereto. Thus three separate coloursare applied in register to the fabric.

Return run When all three rollers have passed the work and the carriagereaches the end of its positive run it comes into contact with the endof the frame and moves the levers 45. This immediately moves the 'bars35 from right to left and raises the rail 28 to its upper position. Inthis position, the rail contacts the running surfaces 8I, 82 and 83,respectively, thus lifting all the rollers E into inoperative positionso that they will clear the fabric and the printing beds on the returnrun of the carriage. The carriage is then moved from right to left ofthe bed in its return run clearing the fabric and the printing beds andit eventually reaches the extreme left-hand end of the .bed frame A,where its contacts the lever 48, which moves the bars 35 from left toright of the frame, allowing the rail 28 to return to its lower leveland permitting all the, rollers to return to contact level. At all timesthe toothed portions 88 engage he rack I1, thus rotating the rollers Ein synchrony.

Fabric-feeding ward, the distance of one repeat between eachrun of thecarriage. On the return run, the carriage is lifted sufllciently thatthepeg I88 clears the belt I38. The fabric is then in position for afurther printing cycle as described above.

Alternatively, the fabric may be fed in other ways,- for instance by themechanism shown in Figure 5 as follows. As the carriage D passes fromleft to right of the bed near the end of the printing operation a Dec288 engages a switch lever 2I8 making electrical contact with a switch282, (switch not shown). This starts an electric motor I89. The motorrotates a shaft I88 on which is mounted a gear I8! ngaging atoothedwheel I88 mounted on the shaft I83. Rotation of this wheelrotates the pulley I92, thus raising the block I94 until it contacts alever I88. Upward movement of the block I84 allows a correspondingmovement of the wire I88 from which it its suspended, which in turnallows a registration control block I8I to pass back to startingposition where it contacts a terminal I83. This also permitscounter-revolution of the ratchet gear wheel II8 to starting position bythe urge of a weight I12 operating by gravity from its suspension on awire I18 over the pulley I1 I.

When the block I84 has reached the upper limit of its travel it raisesthe lever I88 which operates an electrical cut-off switch. at I81,stopping the motor I89. This releases the block I84, which, beingconsiderably heavier than the counterbalancing weight I12, immediatelyfalls to the lower limit of its travel. The distance of this travel iscontrolled by the position of the variable stop I84 adjustable manuallyto various positions along the rails I82. This controls the distance oftravel of the block I8I. The distance between the blocks I83 and I84 isth distance through which the block I8| moves. The cloth is moved arelative amount in each cycle of operation.

As the block I94 falls it operates by means of the wires I88 and I88 andthrough the rachetgeared wheel I88. The cloth-carrying drum II8 causes adefinitely predetermined length of cloth to be moved over the printingbed 85 at each cycle of operation. The cloth-carrying drum is geared tothe other cloth-carrying drum II! by a shaft and bevel gearing (notshown in the drawings).

As the block I8I reaches the limit of its movement it rests against theinner face of the block I84 until the commencement of the next cycle ofoperation. It is held tightly in position by the gravitational pull ofthe block I84. This pull also holds the cloth steadily in position onthe printing bed, preventing its movement during the printing operation.

This cycle of cloth-moving operations cannot be repeated until theelectrical switch at 282 is reset by the resetting switch 285. Theswitch at 285 (switch not shown) is actuated by the carriage D on itstrip back to the starting end of the machine, the peg 288 contacting anddeflecting the switch lever 284, Each lever 2I8 and 284 is, after havingperformed its fnuction, brought back into operative position by means ofweights 2 and 2I2, respectively, attached to its lower end.

Advantages This method and apparatus has several advantages. In thefirst place, the printing of a continuous textile web in several colourscan be accomplished lithographically. The method and apparttus is simpleand convenient. A flat bed press can be equipped according to theinvention to do continuous printing. The work accomplished is accurateand comparable with that pro duced by a roll printing press. Otheradvantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that, without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the claims, various modifications may be madein the specific expedients described. The latter are illustrative onlyand not offered in a restricting sense, it being desired that only suchlimitations shall be placed thereon as may be required by the state ofthe prior art.

The sub-titles used throughout the specification are merely to simplifyreference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded.

I claim:

1. A method of lithographically printing a fabric web in a number ofdifferent colours, com-. prising the steps of, applying to -severalnon-continuous offset printing rollers aligned in a substantiallyhorizontal plane respective impressions to appear register in a pattern,positioning a portion of a fabric web in a horizontal plane parallel tothe direction of travel of said rollers, causing relative movementbetween said rollers and said web whereby said impressions aretransferred thereto in register to print a repeat, moving said webforward to a position for printing another repeat, and again passingsaid rollers over the web to apply a further such repeat thereto inregister with the first repeat, and soon whereby the web has applied toit a plurality of registering repeats.

2. A lithographic printing mechanism, comprising in combination, anelongated printing bed, several impression plates carried by said bed, afiat support carried by said bed for positioning a web of fabric forprinting, said plates and said support being in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, a carriage adapted to move across said bed over saidplates, several printing rollers carried by said carriage and heldthereby in fixed spaced apart relationship, each roller adapted toreceive an impression from one of said plates, fabric feeding meansassociated with said fabric positioning means adapted to feed a web offabric into position for printing, a rack on said bed and an annulartoothed portion on each of said rollers adapted always to engage saidrack whereby the rollers are rotated in synchrony when the carriage ismoved relatively to the bed, an annular track on each roller andhorizontal tracks on said bed causing each roller on the positive run ofthe carriage to contact its respective impression plate and to clear theother impression plates, shift means operable by the movement of saidcarriage causing said rollers on the return run to be lifted clear ofsaid fabric positioning means engageable by the carriage and all saidimpression beds, means operable by the movement thereof to cause saidfeeding means to move the fabric forward to a predetermined extentbetween each positive run of the carriage.

3. A lithographic printing mechanism for fabric webs, comprising incombination, a bed, a plurality of impression plates mounted in serieson said bed, a carriage adapted to reciprocate across said bed frame inpositive and return runs, a plurality of non-continuous lithographicprinting rollers connected to said carriage and adapted on the positiverun of the carriage to transfer respectively different colours from theimpression plates to the fabric, a fabric web support mounted inhorizontal alignment with said plates,

ass-seas fabric web feeding means associated with said support. meansassociated with said impression plates for lifting said printing rollersout of operative position as it passes over the plates corresponding tothe other rollers on the positive run, a track on the bed and an annulargeared portion on each roller for synchronizing the rotation of saidrollers during all movements of the carriage, shift means for liftingall said printing rollers out of operative position on the return run ofthe carriage, means associated with said feeding means for operation bythe movement of said carriage whereby the fabric web is moved forwardone repeat on each movement of the carriage across the frame, meansoperable by the movement of said carriage for moving said shift means iinto lifting position on each positive run of the carriage, and meansoperable by the return movement of the carriage for moving said shiftmeans into inoperative position.

4. A printing mechanism, comprising in combination, a bed frame, aplurality of impression beds mounted on said frame, each adapted toreceive a different colour, a flat fabric support mounted on said frameto support a run of the fabric substantially parallel to said beds, acarriage, a plurality of non-continuous lithographic printing rollersmounted on said carriage and each adapt ed to receive an impression fromone of said beds and to tranmit it to the fabric, a rack on said frameand a geared portion on each roller for engagement therewith whereby therollers are rotated in synchrony on movement of said carriage, a trackmounted on said frame for limited vertical movement, said track runningsubstantlally the length of the frame and being adapted in operativeposition to engage a portion of each roller and thus to raise it fromprinting position, means for lifting said track, said track-liftingmeans being operable by movement of said carriage to move the track intooperative and inoperative positions, means for feeding fabric intoposition on said support repeat by repeat, said feeding means beingoperable by movement of said carriage whereby the fabric is fed forwardone repeat with each reciprocation of the carriage across the bed beforethe rollers come into printing contact therewith.

5. In a printing apparatus including a, bed, a flat support for aportion of a web of fabric to be printed mounted on said bed, aplurality of impression plates for respectively different coloursmounted on said bed in alignment with said fabric support, a pluralityof non-continuous rollers adapted to pass across said plates and acrossthe fabric and to return out of contact therewith and a frame connectingsaid rollers and moving therewith, feeding mechanism, a feed drum and atake-up drum for the fabric, a belt extending about pulleys and having aportion of its length parallel with the bed, belt engaging means on saidcarriage for engaging said belt whereby it is moved forward apredetermined distance for each run of the carriage, means fortransmitting the movement of said belt to said take-up drum whereby thefabric is moved forward for each movement of the belt, and means forcausing said belt engaging means to clear the belt on each return run ofthe carriage.

6. A printing apparatus including a support for a web of fabric to beprinted, a plurality of impression plates adapted to be inked withrespectively different colours, a plurality of noncontinuous offsetprinting rolls each adapted to receive an impression from one of saidplates.

operating means for moving said rollers across said plates and acros theportion of fabric in printing position and to return said rolls out ofcontact with the fabric and plates comprising, feeding means for thefabric web, an actuating member connected to said feeding means, saidactuating member being advanced by the movement of said rolls wherebythe feeding means is moved with each complete movement of said rolls toadvance the web one repeat.

7. A lithographic printing apparatus including a fiat support for afabric web to be printed, a plurality of impression plates mounted inthe same plane as the web support and adapted to receive respectivelydifferent colours, a plurality of offset printing rollers each adaptedto receive an impression from one of said plates, means for moving saidprinting rollers selectively into contact with said plates and with saidfabric, comprising, feeding means for moving said fabric forward, arunner connected to said feeding means and adapted for moving a distanceequivalent to a repeat of said pattern and returning to startingposition, actuating means connected to said runner for advancing it byone repeat, means engageable by the carriage for advancing said runner,means engageable by the carriage for returning said runner to startingposition, and so on.

8. A lithographic printing apparatus including a flat support for afabric web to be printed, a plurality of impression plates in alignmentwith said support and adapted to receive respectively different colours,a plurality of non-continuous offset printing rollers, each adapted toreceive an impression from one of said plates, means for moving saidprinting rollers selectively into contact with said plates and with saidfabric, comprising, feeding means for moving said fabric forward, arunner connected to said feeding means, fabric-advancing means urgingsaid runner in one direction, setting means urging the runner in theother direction, and means actuated by the movement of said printingrollers to control the action of said advancing means and said settingmeans whereby said runner is moved through an advancing stroke andreturned to starting position during each run of the carriage.

9. A lithographic printing mechanism, comprising in combination, aframe, several impression plates, means for positioning in substantiallythe same'plane to said plates a web of fabric for printing, severalnon-continuous printing rolls each adapted to receive an impression fromone of said plates and to transfer it to said web, fabric feeding meansadapted to feed said web into position on said fabric positioning meansfor printing repeat-by-repeat, means connecting said rollers wherebythey are maintained in accurately spaced-apart relationship, said frameincluding a rack, each of said rollers including an annular toothedportion engageable with said rack whereby the rollers are rotated insynchrony by relative movement between the rollers and the frame, therollers being so related to the printing plates and web that relativemovement therebetween on a positive run causes each roller to pick up animpression from its respective impression plate and to transfer saidimpression from said plate to said web, a track on said framecooperating with an annular portion of each roller causing said rollerto avoid contact with the impression plates of the other rollers,feeding means actuated by the movement between the rollers and the framewhereby the fabric is advanced a repeat after each repeat is printed anda member which in operative position increases the space between therollers and the frame whereby the rollers clear the web and impressionplates, and means operated by the relative movement between the rollersand the frame to move said member into operative position after a repeatha been printed and to move it into inoperative position prior to theprinting of the next repeat.

JAMES M. LOWE.

